Pakistan name unchanged XI for series decider in Rawalpindi

Pakistan have announced their starting XI for the third and final Test against England in Rawalpindi, starting October 24, and the hosts have opted to retain the same side that registered a 152-run victory in the second Test in Multan.

Pakistan dropped big guns Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah from the squad for the final two Tests and that gave the opportunity for the trio of Kamran Ghulam, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali to come in. The change proved to be a masterstroke as while Ghulam smashed a match-defining ton in the first innings, Sajid & Noman, between them, took all 20 wickets in the Test. It was the first instance this century of two bowlers taking all 20 wickets to fall in a Test.

The only surprising pick, in a way, is the retention of leggie Zahid Mahmood, who had no influence in the game in Multan. There, the 36-year-old bowled just six overs in the entire Test and conceded 27 runs while taking no wickets. He bowled the same number of overs in the Test as lone seamer Aamer Jamal despite the track turning square.

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In Multan, Pakistan registered their first win at home since 2022 after going 11 Tests at home winless. Come the Rawalpindi Test, the Shan Masood-led unit will be aiming to register its first series win since the 2-0 win away in Sri Lanka in July last year.

Pakistan XI for third Test: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Aamer Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood

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